Ryan Flynn/Register Citizen - Jim Johnson showed several short clips on the subjects of roadside bombings, the mindset of a terrorist and the recruitment of Jihad radicals in the prison system.

LITCHFIELD >> Local first responders took part in a class Thursday night to "detect and defeat" improvised explosive devices.

Jim Johnson, IED Instructor with the Connecticut Army National Guard gave an informative speech to help the first responders protect themselves and others in an IED event.

"A lot of this stuff," Johnson told the class, "it's real scary how simple it is, but it'll kill you dead."

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Johnson has been teaching these IED detection classes since 2009.

"Basically we go in and we teach them the basics of how an IED works, what the components are," Johnson said prior to the class.

In Johnson's classes, which he teaches to first responders and police, those in attendance learn about homemade explosives, how they are put together, where the parts for an IED are bought and which are more effective, and more dangerous, than others.

Displayed out on the table in front of the class were an assortment of mock IED's, from laptop bombs to backpack devices. Johnson showed around 30 fire and EMS personnel the many different types of IED's and how to best detect and react to them.

If any of the first responder personnel find themselves in an IED explosion, Johnson encouraged them not to give up.

"Don't give up," he said. "The minute you give up, you're gonna die."

The United States, Johnson said, is number four in the world in found and detonated IED's, just behind Pakistan.

Johnson served 10 years of active duty in the U.S. Army. He enlisted in 1979. He took a long break from the armed forces before joining the National Guard in 1999.

In Afghanistan in 2010, serving as a Battle NCO, Johnson hit a 500-pound roadside bomb and sustained a traumatic brain injury, which affects his vision to this day.

Johnson's classes, which he has taught to soldiers, are usually eight-hours long. For first responders, the class is condensed to roughly and hour and a half.

He taught the Litchfield first responders the five C's: confirm, clear, call, cordon and control. Confirming that it is an IED, clearing the area, calling for backup and blocking the area from traffic and pedestrians is the best way to deal with possible explosives.

Litchfield first responders were also given a card to carry with them

"It was very informative," said Northfield Fire Chief Michael Berry.

Troy Curulla of Bantam Fire added that "it's scary and sad that we have to learn this."